Hair roller system with built-in clamp and a roller applicator

ABSTRACT

A system for applying one or more rollers to the hair of a person, the system including an applicator handle and rollers. Each roller includes a barrel with an outer cylindrical surface and a clamp pivotable to a closed position adjacent to the barrel surface. When the roller is installed on the applicator handle, the clamp is automatically pivoted away from the barrel and the roller is rotated by a motor built into the handle to allow the roller to wind several hair strands. When the roller is removed from the applicator handle, the clamp returns to the closed position and grasps the hair strands until it is released or opened manually.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This application pertains to a roller with inbuilt clamp holds the hair engaged to the roller and a set containing the same. The complete set has several rollers and one detachable electric applicator to apply rollers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Many women use rollers for curling their hair on a daily basis for shaping their hair. There are many varieties of rollers, curlers and round hair brushes available in the market for this purpose. However, in the opinion of the inventor, none of them are very practical because one or more of the following reason:

-   -   Time consuming to use;     -   Multiple steps are required to set up and use rollers;     -   A round brush is required to hold the rollers and clip to in         position;     -   Require excessive storage space     -   User first requires a brush to brush hair then takes a roller to         roll the hair with both hands.     -   Once roller is set in place the user has to employ an additional         clip/holder to keep the hair in place and to avoid the roller         unrolling from the hair.

Thus, there is a great need for an improved roller and system that overcomes these deficiencies of existing roller sets.

More particularly, there is a need for a system that provides:

-   -   A simple all in one solution;     -   Includes rollers with built-in clamp to eliminates a roller         brush and clips;     -   Has a dual purpose—to brush hair and can be used as a roller;     -   Can provide one hand operation;     -   Has a quick and easy button operation;     -   Can provide a forward and reverse direction for left and right         side of the head;     -   Has a two speed option;     -   Can run on regular disposable or rechargeable batteries AA or         can be powered using a standard AC plug     -   Does not require user to turn wrist to use the hair brush     -   Requires less storage space     -   Provides all in one kit     -   Provides optional rollers in wide variety of sizes, shapes,         material, including ceramic/heated/head with soft foam;     -   Provides different roller sizes—Small, Medium, large;     -   Has a second stage is to use the handle as a hair dryer while         using the rollers;

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system for applying one or more rollers to the hair of a person, the system including an applicator handle and rollers. Each roller includes a barrel with an outer cylindrical surface and a clamp pivotable to a closed position adjacent to the barrel surface. When the roller is installed on the applicator handle, the clamp is automatically pivoted away from the barrel and the roller is rotated by a motor built into the handle to allow the roller to wind several hair strands. When the roller is removed from the applicator handle, the clamp returns to the closed position and grasps the hair strands until it is released or opened manually.

The system can include rollers of different sizes and with different kinds of bristles. A separate heater is provided to heat the rollers as desired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a roller with a built-in clamp constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGS. 2A-2B show views of a heating base with and without several hair rollers;

FIGS. 3A-3C show several hair rollers of different sizes;

FIGS. 4A-4C show the structure of a hair roller;

FIGS. 5A-5D show a cross-sectional view of a hair roller with clamp in open and closed position;

FIGS. 6A-6C show a hair roller attached to an applicator handle;

FIGS. 7A-7B show cross sectional view of a hair roller and the applicator handle;

FIGS. 8A-8D show hair rollers with bristles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention includes a system having a novel hair brush roller 20 and heating base 10 shown in FIGS. 2A-2B. Preferably, the heating base 10 is formed with one or more wells 12 receiving rollers 20.

Several different types of rollers 20 may be provided, including a large roller 20A, a medium roller 20B and a small roller 20C, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C respectively. Each roller includes a barrel 22, a first end 24, a second end 26 and a clamp 28. The barrel 22 has an outer surface 22A for engaging the hair of a person when the hair is wound around the barrel in the usual fashion. Bristles 30 may be optionally provided on barrel 22 as shown in FIG. 8A.

The clamp 28 is mounted by a hinge 32 to the barrel end 24. The hinge 32 has leaf spring 47 (FIG. 4A) or can have simple compression spring 47A (FIG. 1). The hinge 32 allows the clamp 28 to move between an open position in which it is disposed away from the barrel 22 and a close position in which the clamp 28 is disposed in parallel with and adjacent to the surface of the barrel 22 (as shown) in FIGS. 5C and 5D to engage hair wound around the barrel. The springs 47, 47A urge the clamp toward the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 5C, 5D (FIG. 5D shows the clamp 28 in its closed position).

The roller 20 can be attached to an applicator handle 40. The applicator handle 40 includes a head 40A (See FIG. 6C) including an internal locking mechanism 42 and a push switch 44. The locking mechanism is sized and shaped so that as the roller 20 is attached to applicator handle 40 (as shown for example in FIG. 6C), applicator handle head 42 (which is the dome shaped) pushes or pivots the clamp 28 toward its open position (See FIGS. 6A, 6B). As discussed above, the leaf spring 47 biases the clamp 28 to its closed position. Therefore, when the roller 20 is removed from applicator handle 40, the clamp 28 pivots back to its closed position.

The applicator handle 40 also has a button 44 that engages roller end 24. These elements cooperate to interlock the end 24 of the roller and the applicator handle rotationally, while the barrel 22 itself is rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the handle 40, as shown by arrow C.

Details of the applicator handle 40 and brush 20 are further shown in FIG. 1. In addition to the components discussed, the handle 40 includes a first switch 49 having forward, off and reverse position, and a second switch 50 having a high and a low position. The applicator handle 40 further includes a motor 50A and a set of batteries 52. The motor 50A is powered by the batteries 52 or from a conventional power cord (not shown) through a jack 54. Current from the power cord can also be used to charge batteries 52. Switch 49 is used to operate the motor 50A in a forward or reverse direction or to turn the motor 50A off. Switch 52 is used to run the motor 52A at a high or low speed. The motor 50A is coupled by shaft 56 configured to rotate roller 20.

The applicator handle 40 also had a battery door 51 for accessing a compartment holding the batteries AA battery compartment 52.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, each roller 20 includes a base 60 that is the part of the brush 20 that locks to the applicator handle 40 and supports the clamp 28. Importantly, while the surface 22 of roller 20 is rotatable with respect to the applicator handle 40, the base 60 remains stationary on the handle 40.

The system operates as follows. To start—one or more the rollers 20 placed into base 10 and heated. The rollers 20 may all have the same shape, or rollers of different shapes and sizes may be used. In addition, some or all of the brushes may be provided with bristles of various shapes, sizes, flexibility etc. as needed. During heating, the clamp 28 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 2A.

Once heated, each roller 20 is attached to the head 42 applicator handle 40. The applicator handle 40 locks unto the roller 20, and the clamp 28 is automatically opened as described above. The roller 20 is now locked in the applicator handle 40 and ready to use. The user now positions the applicator handle 40 so that the surface 22 of the roller 20 is disposed at the bottom of several hair strands with the hair strands engaging the bristles. The user now activates the motor 52A via switch 49 and simultaneously moves the applicator handle 40 gently upward toward the top of the head. This action causes the hair strand to be wound gently around the surface 22A. The winding speed is controlled via switch 50. Once the roller 20 reaches a preselected position, the user stops the motor 50A and pushes button 44. The button 44, when activated, separates or releases the roller 20 from the applicator handle 40. During this separation, the clamp 28 pivots back to its closed position thereby engaging and holding the wound strand around the surface 22A. The user may now repeat this action several times to cause several strands of hair to be wound on several brushes 20. The motor 50A and roller 20 rotate in one direction on the right side of the head and in the opposite direction for the left side of the head. In this manner the subject device can be used by a person to apply roller to her own hair using a single hand and without any assistance from others.

Moreover, the user doesn't have to twist her wrist to roll the rollers in hair.

The user can set the roller rotating speed to either medium or full speed.

To remove the roller from hair, the user simply holds base 60 and presses the clamp end 28A to temporarily open clamp 28 and unroll hair from roller barrel or surface 22A which is now free to rotate around its vertical axis. Numerous modifications may be made to this invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A hair setting system comprising: an applicator handle having a head, a motor and a first switch selectively activating a motor; and a roller having a barrel with an outer spherical surface, a base and a clamp pivotable between a closed position in which the clamp is disposed adjacent to said outer surface and an open position in which the clamp is disposed away from the barrel surface; wherein said head is configured to receive and engage said base, said head and base being configured to pivot said clamp to said open position when said roller is attached to said applicator handle and to pivot said clamp to said open position when said roller is removed from said applicator handle; and wherein said motor selectively rotates said roller when said roller is attached to said applicator handle.
 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a heating base selectively receiving and heating said roller.
 3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second switch controlling a speed of rotation of said motor.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said clamp is arranged and constructed to maintain hair strands wound on said barrel in said closed position.
 5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a spring biasing said clamp toward said closed position.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein said roller includes a first end and a second end, wherein said base is disposed at said first end. 